Here are all the players I could find that could potentially be available for cap space. [Postion, Team, Player, Salary in 2015-16/ 2016-17/ 2017-18] PG MIA - Mario Chalmers $4.3 G BRK - Jarrett Jack $6.3/6.3(TO) G MIL - OJ Mayo $8.0 G BOS - Avery Bradley $7.7/8.3/8.8 SG MIN - Kevin Martin $7.1/7.4 SG NOL - Eric Gordon $15.5(PO) G/F LAL - Nick Young $5.2/5.4/5.7(PO) G/F MEM - Vince Carter $4.1/4.3 G/F NOL - Tyreke Evans $10.7/10.2 SF HOU - Trevor Ariza $8.2/7.8/7.4 F CHA - Marvin Williams $7.0 F DEN - Danilo Gallinari $11.6 F DEN - Wilson Chandler $7.0 F MEM - Jeff Green $9.2 F SAC - Rudy Gay $12.4/13.3/14.3(PO) PF CHI - Taj Gibson $8.5/9.0 PF MIA - Josh McRoberts $5.5/5.8/6.0(PO) PF SAC - Carl Landry $6.8/6.8 PF SAC - Jason Thompson $6.4/6.8 F/C CHI - Joakim Noah $13.4 F/C SAS - Tiago Splitter $8.5/8.3 C IND - Roy Hibbert $15.5 C CHA - Spencer Hawes $5.5/5.8/6.0(PO) C MIN - Nikola Pekovic $12.1/12.1/11.6
I think this is where the Blazer get at least on addition....either through an unbalanced trade or a S&T where they take back less in salary. Rudy Gay sure would fit nicely into the SF spot but he's never really been a 'winner' and most teams seem to have done better after he left. Gallinari has injury issues but did seem to finish last season strong. It just seems more likely to me they acquire a player in this way then a couple of big FA's coming here.
I'm trying to think who would I want us to explore interest in if we couldn't sign any quality free agents from other teams. If we keep Aldridge I'd say potentially Hibbert, Splitter, Noah, Taj, Ariza, Gay, Danillo, Evans, Martin. They are all overpaid or have some sort of negatives with their games. Thats why they could be available. Tyson Chandler had major injury issues and was available for free when the Mavs got him; then they won a title. These moves are always a risk. If we lose Aldridge I'd say Pekovic, Splitter, Evans. Pek could give us a great inside physical scoring presence if we were going to try to be competitive next season. He needs to be paired with some defensive PF though. If we are rebuilding he's 29 and likely too old. I've always liked Splitter; he was great against us two years ago but very injured in these last playoffs. At 30 he's probably too old as well if we are rebuilding. Evans probably isn't available but I'd at least make the phone call.
Roy Hibbert or Taj Gibson if we go this route imo. They want more than cap space for Gay. They are working on a possible Lawson deal for him.
Not with Joakim's bone-on-bone knee. Outside Gallo, and that's IF he can pass a physical, that list is a pile of meh.
Statistically, yes. But Batum offers more as a glue and cog guy. Neither Gay or Ariza are known "winners". But ultimately, it's easy to say anything would be better because Batum had a shit season. Replace shit with shit, you still have shit, just maybe a different flavor. I'm not heartbroken over losing Batum. I just don't care to fill his spot with players I don't see "moving the needle".
Batum was horrendous last year. Houston lost Parsons and replaced him with ariza and were better. Rudy gay is a legit scorer. If you can buy these guys for super cheap you do it. Especially if lamarcus wants vets that can play
I said Batum had a shit season, no denying it. But teams keep giving up Gay for a reason, and his teams ain't done shit. Similar with Ariza, though I'd much prefer him to Gay, but I've never been a fan, and he's 30 now (I could see him going downhill soon). For the record, Adam Morrison has two rings.
It is. It's as lame as saying someone is a proven winner because he's often played on already good teams. I don't hate Ariza, he wouldn't be a terrible pickup, but I don't think he's an upgrade over pre-last season Batum. So the idea doesn't excite me, especially if we're trying to build the roster up, deepen it, gain some youth, etc. Ariza would have been a sexier pickup for last year's team, before the season started and things began crumbling.
Yeah but that is why they might be available for just cap space. Anyone that is really good would actually command a player or draft pick back. Having said that I would consider Tyreke, Jack, Green, Ariza, Marvin ,Wilson, or Gay if they if they were really available.
Gay would be a terrific 3rd option behind LA and Damian. Say what you want about him, but I've been arguing that we need another guy who can get their own shot. Rudy can do that and be more efficient with guys like Damian and LA to play with. Add a defensive presence in the middle and you have a team. If Gay was to be our starting SF, I would opt for Roy Hibbert in the middle than Greg Monroe. We need some defensive minded players at some point.